Artist Spotlights and Community

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Foldforming Central on Facebook​Are you a metalsmith interested in foldforming? Consider joining Foldforming Central on Facebook, a friendly and supportive group that welcomes all metal arts skill levels. The group is a great place to share your work with fellow smiths and ask / answer questions about technique. Many of the Artist Spotlight stories featured on this page will focus on Foldforming Central members.

​Ed Lay won the 2017 Innovation Award for his "Fold Forms in Glass." Thin copper is foldformed, then enameled on one surface. The enameled copper is then placed in an etching bath to remove the copper-- and the resulting piece is all glass. It's all the more exciting because the piece breaks competition rules-- innovation should push the boundaries, right?

Ed is a metalsmith, enamelist and instructor at San Francisco's Richmond Art Center. He has generously submitted a detailed technical description of his work with glass fold forms.

​Alison Antelman is an award winning jewelery artist and accomplished instructor who exhibits and sells her work from her studio in Berkeley's historic Sawtooth building, and in galleries and craft shows across the United States. In the foldforming community, Alison is best known for taking First Place in the 2014 Lewton-Brain Foldform Competition for her Metropolis Bracelet.

​Pat Downing is a 21st century blacksmith using both modern and old world techniques to create an organic, playful body of work. Quite a few of his pieces are made with foldforming techniques. Like many metal artists, Pat often works in copper and silver using the tools of a metalsmith. It is especially interesting, however, to see Pat's work in 1/16 - 3/16" thick mild steel or 1/8" copper using tools of the blacksmith. ​>>> GO TO STORY >>>